Effects of Biotechnology on the Environment

(a) Herbicide use and resistance. Effects on the environment are a particular concern with GMO crops and food production. One major line of GM crop development gives plants the ability to produce their own pesticide, and/or resistance to specific herbicides -- both traits help farmers by letting them use fewer chemicals and grow crops under less-than-ideal conditions. However, this can also increase overall herbicide use, with a correspondingly larger negative effect on the surrounding environment; unintended hybrid strains of weeds and other plants can also develop herbicide resistance through cross-pollination with the GM crop, which negates the herbicide's benefit. RoundUp is one such herbicide -- RoundUp-ready soybean crops have already been used in agricultural practice, and could potentially confer RoundUp resistance to neighbouring wild plants through cross-pollination. …